Press Releases

Millennial Branding and Internships.com Release Study on The Future of Education

50% of students don't need a physical classroom, 53% believe that online colleges are reputable and 39% view the future of education as being more virtual

Boston, MA – June 11, 2013 – Millennial Branding, a Gen Y research and consulting firm and Internships.com, the world's largest internship marketplace, today announced a new study called "The Future of Education." The study shows how students view online learning, how they believe education is changing, how they study and interact in a classroom setting and how colleges can better help them prepare for the working world. This online survey of 1,345 students from colleges across America was conducted on May 16th.

The study found that students are more willing to learn online and view the future of education as more virtual and social media driven. Only half of students think they need to attend class in a physical setting to get an education. When asked what they saw coming next in education, 39% of students said that it would be more virtual and 19% said that they'll be using social media to engage in the classroom. More students believe that online colleges are reputable and the majority are willing to gain professional experience in an online environment.

Additional highlights from the report include:

1. Colleges are expected to prepare students for the workplace. 25% of students feel unprepared for the working world and 69% of students believe that it's both their college’s and their own responsibility to be prepared for the working world.

2. Students are demanding internships, career advisor support and mentoring. When asked what they believe their college is lacking that would prepare them for the working world, 52% said access to internships, 43% said people to mentor them and 35% said career advisor support.

3. They turn to internships to develop real world skills. 57% of students believe internships are most important when developing their business skills, followed by college classes at 12% and family and friends at 12%. Only 2% valued textbooks as the most important way to develop their skills. 69% of students would participate in an online internship if they were able to. 40% believe that their reliance on technology has hindered the development of their interpersonal skills.

4. Students want to study alone instead of with others. When studying for exams, 75% of students want to study by themselves and only 20% want to study with friends and classmates in person. In a classroom setting, 84% use a computer and 19% use an iPhone and tablet device to study.

5. There's room for growth in the online education marketplace. 78% of students still believe that it's easier to learn in a traditional classroom than online. They do value the benefits of online learning including balancing work and class, flexibility in assignments and lower costs. 43% say that online education will provide them with courses of the same or higher quality than traditional colleges.

6. Students are very interested in pursuing advanced degrees. 81% said they are interested in advanced degrees. When asked why, 55% said it would make them more employable and 38% said they would gain professional connections.

Quotes:

“Millennials understand that the future of education is online and since they were brought up with the internet, they are prepared for that change. Education should not be a one size fits all model because everyone learns differently, regardless of age, occupation and location. More online courses should be offered to cater to those who learn better in a virtual classroom."

"As new modes of online higher education develop and students use technology in greater and greater numbers within and for their academic curriculum, it’s clear that the desire for relevant 21st century jobs and career experiences go hand-in-hand. To ensure the ROI of college long term – whether learning in offline or online settings, experiential education – specifically through internships and mentoring, is a must for the next generation student."

Millennial Branding is a Gen Y research and management consulting firm based in Boston, Mass. Millennial Branding helps companies understand the emerging Gen Y employee by providing research, training, and advisory services. As representatives of Gen Y and advisers to management, our goal is to provide research and insights that will make you more profitable, grow your market share, help you understand your Gen Y employees, and turn you into an industry leader. As ambassadors to Gen Y, we want to give our generation a voice, support their careers, and connect them with brands that understand their needs.

About Internships.com:

Internships.com -- a CareerArc Group company -- is the world’s largest internship marketplace bringing students, employers and higher education together in one centralized location. The innovative, Los Angeles based company, develops a wide variety of interactive, world-class tools and services to enable every student, employer and educator to better understand and optimize internship opportunities. For additional information, please visit www.internships.com. For tips on finding internships, hot internship listings and internship advice, follow Internships.com on Twitter (www.twitter.com/internships) orFacebook (www.facebook.com/internships.com).